A policy change announced this week by U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions isn’t likely to greatly increase seizure of cash, cars or other property of people suspected of crimes but not charged, a New Hampshire federal prosecutor said.

Such seizures, known as civil asset forfeiture, are allowed under some circumstances in the federal court system. In New Hampshire state court cases, property can’t be seized unless there is a conviction.

The policy change by Sessions would potentially give state and local prosecutors a work-around, allowing them to use federal civil asset forfeiture laws instead of operating under the more restrictive state statute. | More…